Staple



March 19, 1968 G. H. EHLERT 3,373,646

' STAPLE Filed March 24. 1966 Fig.

INVENTOR.

G-jiEw/LE T United States Patent 3,373,646 STAPLE George H. Ehlert, 2095 Olive Ave., Lakewood, Ohio 44107 Filed Mar. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 537,103 5 Claims. (Cl. 85-49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A staple cartridge comprising a plurality of like onepiece staples, each staple provided with a pair of spaced substantially parallel leg sections which have penetrating points at the free ends. A cross bar connects the other ends of the legs, each cross bar in the cartridge being substantially parallel to the cross bars of adjacent staples. A planar head portion extends from one side of the cross bar beyond the legs at substantially right angles to the same, and being of substantial area and portions of adjacent staples in the cartridge comprising the heads being in juxtaposition with the heads generally parallel and the staples being adhered together whether by means of the legs or heads, or both as circumstances may dictate.

This invention relates to staples and primarily to staples which are designed for use in positions where greater holding power than that ordinarily provided by commonly known staples is desired.

Particular locations which would desirably avail of the attributes of the staple hereinunder consideration include the application of asphalt or similar Shingles to roofs or the like in building construction. Further the use of these staples is particularly appropriate where socalled dry wall construction is undertaken.

One of the primary difiiculties in the use and form of staples commonly availed of in positions which are suggested by the foregoing, is that the crossbar between the legs of the staple is of relatively narrow configuration and as a result the area which is in contact with the material being fastened thereby is only equal to the area of the crossbar, often not really sufiicient for the purpose.

In order to make the application of the staple a practical matter, the staples themselves must be provided in cartridge form with the legs and crossbars of adjacent staples in the normal understanding thereof, being glued or otherwise maintained in alignment so that they may be inserted in a suitable staple gun or similar applicator.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a staple with increased holding power while making possible the arrangement of staples incorporating the concept hereof in cartridge form so that application may be effected in devices commonly available with only minor modification therein.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a staple in which a head is incorporated in or connected to the crossbar of the staple and extending outwardly therefrom so that the area which is provided as an increased amount of surface, will provide the holding power sought to be made available hereby.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a staple as generally heretofore outlined, which may nevertheless be arranged in cartridge form with the heads of adjacent staples being substantially co-extensive when the legs of such staples are in juxtaposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide staples constructed as before outlined, in which the fastening of staples together in cartridge form may be accomplished in substantially the same way as is presently the case where staples of a different configuration are furnished, with the staples of the instant invention providing marked advantages over those heretofore known.

3,373,546 Patented Mar. 19, 1958 With the foregoing in mind, other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a single staple incorporating the various improved elements.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view indicating the form of the staple and the arrangement of the head thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a front view, so to speak, indicating the form of the staple; being substantially as presently known.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view with the staple in an inverted position to further illustrate the form thereof and the relative size of the parts in a preferred example.

FIGURE 5 is a view showing a plurality of staples arranged in what may be termed a cartridge-like aspect which makes possible the driving of the staples in generally conventional driving mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a view, substantially equivalent to a front view illustrating further the arrangement of the staples in their cartridge position.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view to further illustrate the staples in position in a cartridge, to indicate and illustrate the similarity between the positions assumed by the staples and those presently available in normal or commonly known cartridge form for driving operation.

FIGURE 8 illustrates in top plan view another form of staple.

FIGURE 9 discloses another form of staple.

FIGURE 10 a further form of the invention is a top plan view of another form of staple.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the legs, denoted for the purposes hereof as 1 and 2 respectively, are of the usual rectangular form as would be clearly seen if a cross sectional view thereof was taken, with pointed sections 3 and 4 respectively at the extremities of said legs 1 and 2.

The legs 1 and 2 are connected by a crossbar 5 which in the ordinary staple would be of substantially the same cross sectional are-a as the legs 1 and 2 since it would be formed from the same mate-rial.

However, in the instant case, the crossbar 5 is connected to a head 6 which is of substantially rectilinear configuration, being of the same thickness as the legs I and 2, for all intents and purposes and desirably formed of the same material and integrally with the cross-bar 5.

It is understood that the head 6, if necessary or desirable from a manufacturing standpoint, could be in some manner adhered or atfixed to the crossbar 5 as a rectilinear member and thereby become integral rather than being formed of the same piece of material so to speak.

In any event, for the purposes hereof, it will be considered that the crossbar is connected to the head 6 in any preferred manner Whether integral therewith or in some manner applied thereto and affixed, the width of the head 6 being less than the distance between the legs 1 and 2, so that it will be susceptible of being nested therebetween in the manner suggested in FIGURE 5.

While the head such as 6 may usually be of less Width than the distance between the legs, it should be noted that the critical distance is involved in the width immediately adjacent the legs.

As suggested by FIGURE 10 if the portion of the head adjacent the legs 1a and 2a connectedto the crossbar 5a is of less width and length so to speak so as to enable the legs of an adjacent staple to be positioned like those of an adjacent staple as in FIGURE 5, then the other portion of the head 6a may in fact actually be of greater width.

In the disclosures of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 as a matter of fact, it will be seen that a plurality of the staples formed as herein before described are arranged so that the heads 6 are adjacent one another and thereby a series of steps is formed with the crossbars in each instance at the upper surfaces b thereof arranged so that the hammer in the driving tool will be able to strike such surface and thereby drive the staple into position in the manner identical to that presently available for commonly designed and conformed staples. p

In usual staple construction, the legs 1 and 2 of adjacent staples are in some manner caused to adhere to one another, that is the leg 1 of the staple next to it will be adhered to the corresponding leg 1 thereof and similarly and leg 2 likewise, this being elfected by the use of lacquer or other material which will produce such adherence.

The same arrangement can be availed of in the instant configuration of staples as disclosed 'hereimwherein the legs are adjacent and thus may be adhered to one another or in the alternative adjacent heads of. staples may be adhered in lieu of the use of the legs thereof for this purpose.

It will be seen from the foregoing that staples may be formed into cartridge-like arrangement in the manner substantially identical to that of prior known staples with a surface available for driving by the known staple mechanism in a similar manner likewise, because of the nesting arrangement which makes the position of the crossbar such as to receive the impact from a driving member. I v

In a modified form, as shown in FIGURE 8, a staple may be provided witha substantially round head 7, the crossbar in this instance having half round segments extending on opposite sides. The legs extend or depend downwardly from the crossbar at opposite ends whereby the legs of adjacent staples, which include heads 8 9 and 10 are arranged in contact orsubstantially so. with the head 7 of the staple first mentioned adjacent the head 8, the head 8 adjacent the head 9, etc

The legs at oppositesides of the staple head 7 forexample may be designated 7a and 7b with the legs'extending from the head 8 being designated 8a and 8b.

It will be seen that this arrangement will make possible the driving of staples by the usual hammer provided in a staple machine with some slight modification, the hammer striking the crossbar or its equivalent part.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, again a top plan view of a series of staples, in this instance the heads are substantially rectangular as indicated by the staple head 11,

with the heads of adjacent staples in substantial alignment and close together. i v

In this particular arrangement the leg of the head 11,

is adjacent the next staple leg which may be designated 12a with the Head being designated 12, this providing for the adhering of the staple legs in the usual manner and at the same time providing a surface which is ar-.

ranged to be driven by the hammer in the staple driver. It will be understood that the staples including the heads 11 and 12 forcxaniple are advantageous in that they provide the necessary surface but decrease the cost of manufacture of the staple and the advantages of staples formed according to this invention are retained thereby.

It is also apparent that staples of the other head configurations might likewise be provided within the contemplation of this invention where the .legs are susceptible of being arranged most advantageously adjacent one another with contact and maintenance ofsuch-cont-act obtained by reason of the configuration and arrangement of the legs for nesting ofthe staples-into a cartridge which will operate as contemplated hereby.

I claim:

1. A staple cartridge comprising a plurality of like onepiece staple-s, each having a pair of spaced, substantially.

parallel elongated leg sections including penetrating points at the free end-s thereof, a crossbar connecting the other.

ends of the legs, each crossbar being substantially parallel to the crossbars of adjacent staples, a substantially planar head portion extending from one side of the crossbar longitudinally along the cartridge beyond the. legs at substantially right angles thereto, portions of adjacent staples in the cartridge being in juxtaposition with the heads being in generally parallelalignment, areas of adjacent staples being adhered together.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side surface of the crossbar and atleast one surface on each of the legs are co-planar, the heads of adjacent staples having provisions for receiving the legs of an adjacent staple at the sides of said head.

3. -A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the-legs and heads of adjacent staples arein juxtaposition with the heads being in generally parallel alignment, and the legs of adjacent staples being adhered together.-

4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the areas of adjacent staples which are adhered together comprise theheads. I

5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side surface of the crossbar and at least .one surface on each of the legs are substantially co-planar, the legs and headsof adjacent staples in the-cartridgebeing'in juxtapositionwith the heads being in generally parallelalignment, the legs of adjacent staples being adhered together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CARI Primary Emmet. R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner. 

